Venezuela's changing Caribbean approach

This is particularly so in the case of Venezuela’s changing relationship with the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In recent months Caracas has been deepening its sub-regional relations and has escalated its border dispute with Guyana. It has also encouraged CARICOM to be less than emphatic in its support for Georgetown’s position.  At the same time it has been moving rapidly to consolidate its relationship with, in particular, the OECS, Trinidad and Suriname by offering increased levels of support or investments, largely through its concessional PetroCaribe oil and development assistance programmes.  Such generosity, however, comes against an unlikely backdrop.  More…